ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade Business Related Discussion views on pricing

Mahlere As being part of that group of contractors that you inform about contracting and business i have really enjoyed your posts here and the other forum, I have learn lots from your posts . It has giving me a new perspective on striving to make a go of the EC business, i never had a plan before money was never looked at as money for development for my company , i never did costs before.
I had my girl friend enter 2 years of data into a cost calculator it opened my eyes.
i posted that i couldn't believe what my costs per hour were, doing service work.
You replied that they were in within reason.

You haven't wasted your time with some of us

Anyhow Happy Easter and will be looking forward to any of your business posts .
Thanks

mahlere, I have to agree with iwire. Great professional posts. I do not think I could respond as calmly as you did.

Another clueless DIYer!!! After all it is only black & white wires. Why does he need us? He read a book so he knows what he is doing.

DNK, where are you coming from??? Maybe you should take the job offer posted in that thread.

Al

We have been told in company meetings that 45% of our labor is spent on material handling issues, not electric work.

That being the case we do not hesitate to rent fork lifts and 'golf carts on steroids'. We own many pallet jacks and rolling shelfs that get moved from job to job.

The "getting it there" is a significant labor waster.

Actually this is such a big cost that about two weeks ago the shop held a training course for "Lulls" ( A brand name for all terrain telescoping forklifts).

In MA a hydraulic operators license is needed to operate these machines, but the up side is you can pick up a pallet deep in a trailer from the ground drive it across deep mud and stick it in a 5th floor window.

Fixtures, cable panels etc all get places on the their floors or the highest floor we can reach usually 3rd to 5th depending on pallet weight and access to the building.

Bob,

It took me a long time to wake up, and look at all the costs that i din't recover, yes 45% is pretty close, i was just following the pack, i only woke up when my wife said she had eniough, and was on her way out, either run it like a business, or get a job, thanks to help, from the bank, and other contractors, i was able to recover.

I see Veronica's thread has been locked at DIY

Cost is everything.

Perhaps it is time to realize that professional electrictians are not cost/time effective for doing residential work.

George,

I was looking at your profile, there is nothing listed, may i ask, if you work in the electrical contracting field?, and on what basis do you determine, electricians are not effective in residential work?

[This message has been edited by LK (edited 04-16-2006).]

George this is just my personal opinion and not that of ECN.

You are really out there.

Who would you recommend wire peoples homes?

Believe it or not even though the home shows make it look easy it is not.

Any fool can wire a light fixture, wiring an entire home safely and code compliantly is another issue altogether.

JMO, Bob

LK last I knew George was claiming to be an electrical engineer.

His posts are always a little 'different'.

Bob